ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), served a legal notice on Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel on Tuesday seeking Rs10 billion in retaliation for his “disparaging and malicious” allegations against him.

The minister was sued for “dissemination and circulation of wrongful, baseless, false, misleading, erroneous, malicious, and defamatory information/facts” during a press conference on May 26.

According to the notice, the press conference was watched in Pakistan as well as around the world via electronic media channels, YouTube, and various other social media platforms, and its details were also published in national and international newspapers.

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The notice stated that Patel had falsely, erroneously, dishonestly, unfairly, unethically, and maliciously asserted/alleged in his press conference that Khan’s medical report indicated excessive alcohol consumption, no information about a fracture in his leg, and unstable mental health.

In the notice served under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002, the PTI chief has asked Patel to retract his statements, tender an unconditional apology and admit to misstating information, pay Rs10 billion for defaming him and making false allegations, and refrain from making any further defamatory comments and remarks against him in the future.

The notice warns Patel that if he does not comply within 15 days, Khan will file legal action against him.

“The costs of such proceedings and the risk as to the consequences thereof shall be entirely on your account,” the PTI chairman’s notice stated.

According to the notice, the money received in defamation will be donated to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre.